Burma Among Worst For Religious Freedom

Burma has been declared one of the world’s worst countries for religious freedom as reports emerge of places of worship being savagely vandalized by government troops.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released its 2012 Annual Report on Tuesday which includes Burma on its list of “countries of particular concern” (CPCs) just as incidents of bibles being burnt and Christian gatherings being disrupted emerge in Kachin and Chin states.

“It’s no coincidence that many of the nations we recommend to be designated as CPCs are among the most dangerous and destabilizing places on earth,” said USCIRF Chairman Leonard Leo. “Nations that trample upon basic rights, including freedom of religion, provide fertile ground for poverty and insecurity, war and terror, and violent, radical movements and activities.”

Burmese government troops reportedly ransacked Sin Lum Pang Mu Baptist Church in Pang Mu village, Bhamo District, Kachin State, on March 13, with bibles burned and widespread looting.

Rev. Jangmaw Gam Maw, the pastor of Pang Mu Church, claims soldiers from 33rd Battalion of 88th Infantry Division burned bibles, destroyed church property and stole a video player, loudspeakers and belongings of local people, as well as cash from donation boxes.

The soldiers claimed that the church was a Kachin Independence Army outpost. The pastor and more than 1,000 parishioners had recently returned after abandoning the village on Nov. 19 last year to join Mai Ja Yang refugee camp.

On March 10, Burmese government troops disrupted a Christian conference and threatened a Member of Parliament at gunpoint in southern Chin State, according to the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO).

More than 1,000 delegates from 80 local branches of the Mara (Chin) Evangelical Church at Sabawngte village, Matupi Township, had gathered for the conference which had official permission.

The CHRO reported that several Burmese soldiers disrupted the meeting and rebuked the village headman for not informing the army camp about the event. Pu Van Cin, an MP from the Ethnic National Development Party, was threatened at gunpoint when he intervened to stop soldiers confronting the village chief.

 By CHARLIE CAMPBELL / THE IRRAWADDY

Benedict Rogers, the East Asia team leader at Christian Solidarity Worldwide, said, “These incidents illustrate that there is still a very long way to go in Burma’s reform process, and for that reason, the international community should be cautious about lifting too many sanctions too quickly.

“We have seen very welcome progress in Burma at some levels in recent months, but the [Burmese army] continues to perpetrate grave violations of human rights in the ethnic areas, which include religious discrimination and persecution of minorities.”

The other nations included on USCIRF list of CPCs were China, Egypt, Eritrea, Iraq, Iran, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

Chin Preacher from USA Ordered to Leave Town in Thantlang

MYANMAR :: Mr. Tial Lian Thang, a Chin Christian from the US visiting his family, has been ordered to leave town by the local authorities while preaching at a local church in Thantlang, Chin State.

A Burmese officer, Head of the Immigration Department was said to have warned Tial Lian Thang to make a report to the government authority in Hakha this afternoon after interrupting a Christian crusade organised by the Johson Memorial Baptist Church.

"He was told that he is not welcome here in the town. After making himself known to the authorities in Hakha, he was told to leave Chin State for Rangoon," one of his relatives from Thantlang town told Chinland Guardian.

Another source suggested that he has been accused of gathering people in a church and of telling them about politics besides the gospel.

Tial Lian Thang, a US citizen, who has been in the town for more than a month, was banned from preaching and staying in the town days after Burma's President Thei Sein's call on Burmese citizens in exile to return last month.

Some local churches including Thantlang Baptist Church have been threatened why he was allowed to preach to their congregation, according to a local who works for one of the churches.

"He is stopped during the gathering and now on his way home from School Block where the Christian crusade is held. He is going to Hakha very soon," added the local.

Currently based in Maryland, USA, Mr. Tial Lian Thang in his early thirties is visiting his family in Thantlang town for the first time after having left Burma for about ten years. 

Source: Chinland Guardian

Chin Christian Pastor Ordered to Leave Town in Magway Division

A Chin pastor, who has been living as a Christian missionary in Kyaukhtu Town, Magway Division for nearly three years, was ordered to discontinue his work and leave the town by the local authorities on 20 August 2011.

The Dai Chin Christian missionary whose name is not revealed, was forced to return to his native place after allegedly being accused of not participating in the so-called 'voluntary work' and not contributing financially to the authorities.

In Burma, religious minorities including Christians and Muslims have been forced to 'donate' money, food, labour or materials to maintain Buddhist monasteries, and to serve as military porters, according to an annual report 2011 by USCIRF (United States Commission on International Religious Freedom).  

One of the Chin Christian leaders from Mindat Town, Chin State, said the Chin pastor and his family who stayed in their mission quarter were ousted from Kungpho block after the authorities gave them warnings and cut off electricity and water as punishment.

"The local government authorities warned that further action might be taken if he didn't listen and that an order would be issued to the State School teacher to ban their children from going to school," added the local who asked not to be named.

Having no other options, the Chin family, who had lived in the town since 2009, was known to have left the town and gone to the nearest town in southern parts of Chin State.

Speaking over the phone last Saturday, the Chin pastor in his mid 30s said: "I am worried and concerned about my church members. 

I really want to go back as soon as possible. Please pray for me so that the door will be open to continue my work and for the church members to be faithful and strong in this difficult time."

The junta sent in Buddhist monks to various towns and villages in Chin State, with soldiers to protect them, according to the magazine of Barnabas Fund in January-February 2007.

"Anyone who converts to Buddhism is exempt from forced labour or portering and all other kinds of persecution," added the magazine.

Religious leaders in Burma are not eligible to vote in the election under Section 392 of the 2008 constitution.

It is estimated that there are over 70 Christian believers in the areas near Kyaukhtu town, the second largest in Saw Township of Magway Division where approximately 98 percent of the total population, 4.4million, is Buddhist. 

Source: Chinland Guardian